• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Media registry gag exposes bias against 2nd Amendment

NonoBadDog

Hates Kittens
DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 27, 2014
Messages
17,226
Reaction score
6,895
Location
Mountains
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Libertarian - Right
Media registry gag exposes bias against 2nd Amendment
"My visceral reaction isn't printable but can be summarized thusly: This is a naked attack on the First Amendment — you know, the one that says 'Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech or of the press," the Washington Post's Callum Borchers said late Tuesday afternoon, referring to a bill introduced by Republican State Rep. Mike Pitts.

"I realize we're talking about a state legislature here, not Congress, but we're also talking about one of the nation's founding principles," he added.
The executive director of the S.C. Press Association, Bill Rogers, added in equal indignation that the proposed measure was "ridiculous and totally unconstitutional."

Rather, he said he introduced the bill to make a point about how media treat the Second Amendment and gun laws. Pitts told the Post and Courier that his bill was modeled almost exactly after "concealed weapons permitting law."
Despite Pitts' openness about his motivations, and his willingness to speak to the press, some in media rushed to denounce what they believed was an earnest attempt by a lawmaker to curb free speech, without bothering to interview Pitts.
"What Pitts is proposing isn't just wrong; it simply can't be done. There's no stopping people from spreading the news in a digital society — certainly not with some outdated idea for a registry," the Post's Borchers wrote.
"It's not my concern if a member of the South Carolina House entered a bill as a ruse to 'punk' the media," he added. "My concern is that an elected official publicly stated that he planned to introduce a bill to register and license journalists, with the threat of fines and jail time for violators. I can't allow that to happen. My organization, the New York Press Club, is a dedicated protector of the First Amendment and journalists' rights."

I thought this was pretty funny. The article needs to be read fully to be understood. I guess the press thinks more of their rights than they do the rights of everyday citizens.
 
What a great idea. And, WOW. How the press jumped right on it and reacted just as predicted.

Amazing.

Truth be told, I was hooked as well at first when I heard about the bill. Which IMHO makes this even better, because it got me, a very pro-2nd Amendment person to get upset as well, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

"It's not my concern if a member of the South Carolina House entered a bill as a ruse to 'punk' the media," he added. "My concern is that an elected official publicly stated that he planned to introduce a bill to register and license journalists, with the threat of fines and jail time for violators. I can't allow that to happen. My organization, the New York Press Club, is a dedicated protector of the First Amendment and journalists' rights."

Sounds like the New York Press Club is to the 1st Amendment what the NRA is to the 2nd. I wonder if we will hear President Obama calling the New York Press Club the same nasty names that he calls the NRA?
 
Last edited:
Media registry gag exposes bias against 2nd Amendment


I thought this was pretty funny. The article needs to be read fully to be understood. I guess the press thinks more of their rights than they do the rights of everyday citizens.

How unfortunate that it was just a gag. It was a good idea on its own terms.
 
What a great idea. And, WOW. How the press jumped right on it and reacted just as predicted.

Amazing.

Truth be told, I was hooked as well at first when I heard about the bill. Which IMHO makes this even better, because it got me, a very pro-2nd Amendment person to get upset as well, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

Like sharks to chum. I think they guy did good exposing the hypocrisy.
 
Like sharks to chum. I think they guy did good exposing the hypocrisy.

On that same line, I added this to the post above after you quoted it:

"It's not my concern if a member of the South Carolina House entered a bill as a ruse to 'punk' the media," he added. "My concern is that an elected official publicly stated that he planned to introduce a bill to register and license journalists, with the threat of fines and jail time for violators. I can't allow that to happen. My organization, the New York Press Club, is a dedicated protector of the First Amendment and journalists' rights."

Sounds like the New York Press Club is to the 1st Amendment what the NRA is to the 2nd. I wonder if we will hear President Obama calling the New York Press Club the same nasty names that he calls the NRA?
 
On that same line, I added this to the post above after you quoted it:

Sounds like the New York Press Club is to the 1st Amendment what the NRA is to the 2nd. I wonder if we will hear President Obama calling the New York Press Club the same nasty names that he calls the NRA?
"It's not my concern if a member of the South Carolina House entered a bill as a ruse to 'punk' the media," he added. "My concern is that an elected official publicly stated that he planned to introduce a bill to register and license journalists, with the threat of fines and jail time for violators. I can't allow that to happen. My organization, the New York Press Club, is a dedicated protector of the First Amendment and journalists' rights."

That statement drips with embarrassment. They fell for it and had to justify their naivety and double standards somehow. "But, but, but."
 
That statement drips with embarrassment. They fell for it and had to justify their naivety, double standards somehow. "But, but, but."

Maybe this reaction on their part, may finally give them an idea why we act as we do when they advocate doing the exact same thing to gun owners: register, license, fees, penalties. But, no. It won't. Those folks are so indoctrinated in their own hysterical and vitriolic hatred of guns that they cannot see the fact that our natural right as recognized by the 2nd Amendment is no less important to US citizens than the 1st Amendment right of the press.

I truly wish that the fact this was a gag would not have been made public until after the White House had made a comment, because you know that Obama and his sycophants around him could not have resisted to make this a "Teachable Moment" as they like to call it. But who knows, maybe they'll still take the bait.
 
Of course you would take a prank seriously.

I knew it was probably a gag. That doesn't change the fact that the idea happened to be a good one.
 
I knew it was probably a gag. That doesn't change the fact that the idea happened to be a good one.

Of course anything that curbs freedom, is good in your mind.
 
Of course anything that curbs freedom, is good in your mind.

Any law whatsoever restricts freedom (e.g. A gun control law restricts your freedom to own guns, a gun rights law restricts the police's freedom to take them). That's just what law does.

I support this proposal because it is a step towards breaking rule-by-the-media in this country.
 
Those "reasonable restrictions" get to be mighty upsetting when they are placed on other rights. which then become crimes without having that, state issued, constitutional rights rental agreement. I think that taking a class, passing a test and paying (non-refundable) application fee for a press/internet license is a dandy idea - the "may issue" part being based on one's 2A position (reason for speaking), of course. ;)
 
Any law whatsoever restricts freedom (e.g. A gun control law restricts your freedom to own guns, a gun rights law restricts the police's freedom to take them). That's just what law does.

I support this proposal because it is a step towards breaking rule-by-the-media in this country.

Ohh, please. Knowing you, you would prefer a single state run news outlet.
 
Ohh, please. Knowing you, you would prefer a single state run news outlet.

As I've stated before, it's simply not healthy for the common people to here about every little thing that goes on across the country, so most of what we call news should just cease to be spread. For the important things (new laws, PSAs, etc.), yes, their announcement should be in the purview of the authorities.
 
Media registry gag exposes bias against 2nd Amendment


I thought this was pretty funny. The article needs to be read fully to be understood. I guess the press thinks more of their rights than they do the rights of everyday citizens.

This is so awesome. I need to read more about it. I bet some in the press are pissing mad to have fallen for it.
 
Only so long as it agreed with him.

While I would of course prefer that, abolishing the freedom of the press would be good even if it didn't. Pressocracy inherently discourages our rulers from responsible government. It's abolition would be beneficial in itself.
 
As I've stated before, it's simply not healthy for the common people to here about every little thing that goes on across the country, so most of what we call news should just cease to be spread. For the important things (new laws, PSAs, etc.), yes, their announcement should be in the purview of the authorities.

I think you should follow your beliefs and just stop posting in here, since we common shouldn't hear everything
 
I think you should follow your beliefs and just stop posting in here, since we common shouldn't hear everything

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. I'm not a gossipmongerer (a journalist), and I haven't acted like one of this forum.
 
I'm not sure what you're trying to say. I'm not a gossipmongerer (a journalist), and I haven't acted like one of this forum.

I wouldn't expect you to understand.
 
Back
Top Bottom